Industrial Utility Efficiency

# Chemical Packaging Plant Shaves 41% Off Annual Electric Bill with Compressed Air Energy-Saving Measures

A chemical packaging facility had done everything right when they last upgraded their compressed air system a few years ago. They installed a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) air compressor and implemented other energy efficiency measures, but plant expansions caused increased system demand, which exceeded the capacity of the system. The packaging lines were now seeing low pressure, causing shut downs in production. And projections showed plant demand would increase even further.

This article discusses the upgrades to the system and energy efficiency measures applied to address the plant’s issues. As a result of the improvements, the plant saved 41% on their previous compressed air-related electricity costs and better stabilized their air pressure.

### Plant Flows Exceed Compressed Air System Capacity

The growing plant had upgraded their 30 horsepower (hp) modulating screw air compressor quite a few years earlier and added a 40 hp VSD air compressor with a smaller 25 hp fixed speed unit. That project gained them large capacity and energy savings. In addition to the new air compressor, the plant added cycling dryers, a larger storage receiver, and a pressure/flow controller to keep the air compressors running well, and to reduce plant pressure to a constant lower level, saving on artificial demand.

Back in the early days the production shift was eight hours per day, five days a week. But as plant output increased, the plant updated its production schedule to 24 hour per day, five days a week. Peak plant flows started to increase little by little, until gradually the capacity of the existing system was exceeded. When this happened, the plant pressures started to drop to as low as 65 psi, at times, because the air compressors could not keep up. As a result, plant managers called in a local compressed air auditor to do a study.

### Multiple Opportunities for Energy Savings

The goals of the compressed air scoping study were as follows:

• To provide an operating profile and consumption report on the cost of compressed air operations in the facility.
• To provide commentary on any potential opportunities to improve compressed air related production processes.
• To generally determine how well the compressed air system is meeting the facility needs.
• To identify any compressed air system problems that could be solved in an energy-efficient way.

The readings and observations during the measurement period showed the compressed air system was operating at lower efficiency during peak operating times and good efficiency during average operation compared to similar optimized systems. It also showed small improvements were possible. In general, the study suggested better operation would be gained if the existing or new air compressors had the pressure settings properly coordinated so the fixed speed unit would not load and unload when it runs. It could also be set high enough to better contribute to adequate air pressure.

Data loggers were used to monitor the electrical input to the compressed air system in order to calculate the approximate annual electrical operating consumption. The data showed the annual energy consumption for compressed air was about 200,600 kWh with a peak demand of around 50 kVa. Average facility air loading was measured at about 76 cfm. Sustained peaks were seen around 200 cfm.

The compressed air system represented about 18% of the total facility annual electrical costs. Based on rates taken from the facility’s electrical bill, the cost of operating the compressed air system was \$20,000 per year, including taxes and typical maintenance costs. Analysis of the information collected showed some potential opportunities that would result in improvements in the operation of the compressed air system. It also showed potential savings in compressed air related electrical and maintenance costs of up to 37% of the base costs. ### Opportunities for Savings with Supply-side and End-use Measures The audit showed multiple opportunities for savings. A thorough assessment of the complete compressed air system led to the following recommendations: Air compressor control and coordination – The existing air compressors had a problem with control pressure coordination. The smaller unit was not loading until the pressure dropped well below the set point of the VSD air compressor, and when loaded it ran in modulation mode. This is a common problem where the VSD compressor control bands need to be nested within the control band of the fixed speed unit as shown in Figure 2. ##### Figure 2: The recommended control band places the VSD inside the pressure band of the fixed speed compressors. Air compressor hours – The auditor noticed there was no production on the weekend. The only load on the compressed air system was some heating and ventilation dampers and the dry fire system, both of which are very low loads that could be supplied by a small reciprocating air compressor. This would allow the main system to be turned off on weekends. Backup capacity – The system peak capacity was measured at slightly over 200 cfm, but the backup air compressor had only 100 hp capacity. This did not provide good reliability should the 40 hp VSD need to be shut down, or serviced. The 200 cfm peak meant both air compressors needed to run during peak demand. Reduction of leakage – The plant leakage was measured at 25 cfm, which worked out to 30% of average system flow. Some reduction of this would save energy by reducing the air compressor loading. End-use reduction – Four end uses were identified for optimization: • Dust collector pulse valves – A dust collector in the plant had been poorly adjusted so the pulse valves were blasting for one half second rather than the recommended two-tenths of a second. The frequency of blasts was set higher than optimum, both conditions resulting in excessive compressed air consumption. • Air crane – A compressed air powered crane lift was being used to move product. This crane consumed 35 cfm peak flow and contributed to plant peak demand. An electric crane was recommended that consumed about one-tenth of the equivalent electrical power. • Vacuum - A compressed air-powered drum vacuum was being used that consumed about 60 cfm. It contributed to overall compressed air demand and had the potential to increase peak demand if used during peak production times. • Air booster – A nitrogen system had been installed in a laboratory area that required compressed air at about 150 psi. Staff had installed a compressed air powered booster to increase the compressed air pressure to the required level used by the nitrogen generator. The booster consumed significant constant flow. A small reciprocating air compressor was recommended to more efficiently boost the air to high pressure. ##### A poorly adjusted blast valve and leakage created problems with this dust collector. Air dryers – The study recommended purchasing cycling air dryers if any new dryers were installed. Filters – The auditor recommended oversizing any main filtration to reduce pressure loss. Condensate drains – The study recommended changing timer drains to more efficient airless style units. The study predicted the recommended changes would reduce the electrical consumption of the compressed air system by 37% over the existing system and improve the air pressure. ##### A pressure/flow controller kept plant pressure at a low level and reduced artificial demand. Plant management decided to upgrade system capacity by installing a larger 75 hp air compressor. The unit was installed with large storage capacity sized so the air compressor would start/stop with a low frequency if it ever ran at below minimum speed. It turns out with the reduction of the leakage and end uses the operation was frequently in this range. Operation at below minimum speed is not typically recommended because the air compressor will not build up enough heat to drive off any water that condenses in the lubricant. Setting the pressure band very wide and using large storage allows the air compressor to run longer between starts, thereby better heating the air compressor. This comes at the expense of slightly higher energy consumption. ##### Figure 3: Running with a wide pressure band (green trace) allows the air compressor to run longer during minimum speed operations. Turning the system off on weekends saves energy that would normally feed leakage. Click here to enlarge. ### Plant Saves \$10,000 in Annual Electrical Costs

Final numbers showed this project yielded higher savings than expected. Savings of 101,000 kWh were gained, saving slightly over \$10,000 in electrical costs per year. Average load fell to 57 cfm with peak flow of 150 cfm. This load reduction meant the previous system would have been able to supply the plant, but production increases were planned so a larger air compressor was purchased. The power utility granted a financial incentive of over \$16,000 to help pay for the project.

This project showed the value of bringing in a compressed air auditor to have a look at the system. Often only the supply side of the system is looked at, with potential end use and leakage reductions overlooked. It pays to evaluate the complete system. Often end uses yield significant savings that can reduce electrical cost and qualify the plant for a larger financial incentive from the power utility.

For more information contact Ron Marshall, Marshall Compressed Air Consulting, tel: 204-806-2085, email: ronm@mts.net